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OFFICIAL GUIDE 



Xo. 1. THE SANTA MARIA — Flagship. 

(See Framed Picture of Fleet of Colimibus at Sea, Shown on Maiiunast). 

The replica of the original Santa Maria that made the eventful voyage 
in 1492 as the flagship of the Columbus fleet of three boats, was launched 
at the Navy Yard, Cadiz, Spain, June 26, 1892. She made her first sea 
voyage July 29, of the same year, sailing to Palos, Spain. Her dimensions 

are: 

Length at the w^ater line — 71 feet, 3 inches. 

Length over all — 94 feet. 

Beam — 25 feet, 8 inches. 

Depth of hold — 12 feet, 5 inches. 

Draft — 8 feet, 3 inches. 

Freeboard — 5 feet. 

Displacement — 233 metric tons (96 gross tons). 

The Santa Maria is very staunchly built. She has a 12x14 inch solid 
oak keel; she is double ribbed every 11 inches, each rib 5x9 inches, solid 
oak; she is sheeted outside with 3-inch planks of Spanish Fir. The Santa 
Maria was styled a ship because of her size and deck arrangement, being 
the only one of the three boats composing the fleet of 1492 that had fore- 
castle and cabin. You will note that her deck arrangement and shape 
would indicate that she was built for the purpose of attack and defense. 

The Santa Maria has a bowsprit and three masts: Foremast, mainmast 
and mizzenmast. The mainmast is 90 feet high, and carries a mainyard 60 
feet, 6 inches in length; a gallantyard 23 feet, 6 inches in length. Her 
Spritsailyard is 26 feet, 6 inches; Foreyard, 39 feet, 9 inches; Mizzen Lateen- 
yard, 63 feet, 6 inches. At the top of the mainmast is a "Crows Nest," 9 feet 
in diameter, 3 feet deep, in which the sailor on lookout duty was stationed. 
She carries under full sail 5,000 square feet of canvas, rigged in square 
and triangular sails, as follows: 

Spritsail — Underneath the bowsprit. Used when under full sail. 
Foresail — Extending from foremast, and lashed to foreyard. 
Main Gallantsail — Lashed to mainyard in three sections, or "bon- 
nets." (Reef points were not used in the days of Columbus, 
so to shorten sail a section of sail, or "bonnet" was taken off. 
Top Gallantsail — Lashed to gallantyard. 

Mizzen Lateensail — A triangular sail extending from the mizzen- 
mast, and lashed to lateenyard. 
Fore Staysail — Runs from jibboom to truck of foremast. Is used 
in a storm. 
About the ship in various places you will find old Spanish Wooden 
Blocks, which are used in handling the sails. These blocks are of the 
Columbus period. In their many shapes and sizes, from the tiny single- 
wheeled ones, to the mammoth ones of several wheels, they are a very 
interesting study. 

It is due the Santa Maria to say that under full sail she is a most 
inspiring sight. 

The armament of the ship consists of four Lombardia cannon ot 2^ 
inch bore; six Falconets, 1 inch to 1% inch bore. '* 



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©CI,A37G344 

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OFFICIAL GUIDE 

Historical Educational Cruise 



OF THE 



SANTA MARIA 

Spain's Official Replica of the Flagship of Admiral 

Columbus En Route from Chicago to 

the Panama-Pacific Exposition 



SAILING IN NEW WATER 



INCLUDING: 



Description of Relics Shown on Board the Santa Maria; History of the Re- 
Building of the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina ; the Coming 
of the Replicas of the Columbus Fleet to America; 
Detail of the Present Educational Cruise 



Christopher ColumbusandHis Enterprise 

By EDWARD LUTHER STEVENSON, Ph. D. 



PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS OF: 

Spanish Letter of Columbus to Luis de Santangel, and Literal Translation 

of Same; Illustrations from "La Nao Santa Maria;" 

Maps and Charts of the Fifteenth Century 



NOTE: — Number and name appears on each distinctive feature, or part of 
the exhibit — boat and relics. The corresponding number in the 
Guide give.s you an interesting description of same. You will 
find the Official Guide a valuable help in making your visit to 
the boat both pleasant and profitable. It afterward becomes 
a much prized souvenir. 



Copyrighted 1914, by Andrew Kaul, Jr. 



OFFICIAL GUIDE 3 

On the cruise of 1492 the Santa Maria carried a total in officers and 
men of from 56 to 70, according to different historians. This included the 
Admiral, High Constable, Chief Accountant, Comptroller, Royal Notary, 
Historiographer, and Linguist or Interpreter. These people were eared for 
on this small boat for a period of 70 days. Where did they find quarters? 
Of what did their provisions consist and where were they stored? We are 
told that fresh water was carried in wooden tanks built down in the hold 
of the boat, the tanks replenished by catching rain water on sails spread 
about the boat. But of the provender nothing is said. We can easily 
conclude that they were not given to course dinners. 

If you recall your school history, you will remember that the first Santa 
Maria was wrecked on the reefs off shore of Hayti, on Christmas Eve, 1492; 
that the contents of the boat were saved by the Indians; that Columbus 
built Fort Navidad from the timbers and lumber of the Santa Maria; that 
he mounted the cannon from the boat within this fort; that he left 40 men 
in charge of the fort while he returned to Spain in the Nina. 

Nos. 2 and 3. PINTA AND NINA — Caravels . 

(See Framed Picture of the Fleet of Columbus at Sea, Shown on Mainmast). 

The replicas of the two Caravels, Pinta and Nina, that with the Santa 
Maria made up the Columbus fleet of 1492, were built at the Navy Yard, 
Barcelonia,^Spain, in the spring of 1892, and made their first public appear- 
ance with the Santa Maria, at the time of Spain's Columbus Celebration, 
October, 1892. The dimensions of the Pinta are: 

Length at deck line — 54 feet. 
Length over all — 68 feet. 
Beam — 22 feet. 

Depth of hold — 9 feet, 6 inches. 
Draft — 6 feet. 
Freeboard — 4 feet. 
Displacement — 50 tons. 

The Pinta has a keel 6x8 inches, and 5x5 inch double ribs every 7 inches. 
She has the same number of masts as the Santa Maria. On the mainmast 
is a "Crows Nest" 3 feet, 7 inches in diameter, 30 inches deep. Her sails 
are the same as the Santa Maria, only smaller. Under full sail she carries 
3,000 square feet of canvas. 

The Pinta carries 4 Falconet cannon on her rails, of 1-inch bore. 

Through the treachery of her captain, the original Pinta, after the new 
world discovery, deserted Columbus for a time and went in search of the 
"fields of gold." On the voyage home the Pinta's Captain again deserted 
the Admiral, and brought disgrace upon the ship by attempting to steal the 
laurels of Columbus by reporting Columbus lost, and posing as the discoverer 
of the new country. Rebuked by Queen Isabella, the captain of the Pinta 
died a few days after his return to Spain, from remorse and disgrace. 

The dimensions of the Nina are: 

Length at deck line — 55 feet. 

Length over all — 67 feet. 

Beam — 22 feet. 

Depth of hold — 10 feet. 

Draft — 6 feet. 

Freeboard — 3 feet. 

Displacement — 48 tons. 



4 OFFICIAL GUIDE 

The Nina has a keel 6x13 inches; is double ribbed with 5x5 inch ribs 
placed every 7 inches. 

Under full sail the Nina carries a total of 2,300 square feet of canvas 
on a fore staysail, fore lateensail, main lateensail, mizzen lateensail. Her 
fore lateenyard is 60 feet; main lateenyard, 47 feet; mizzen lateenyard, 41 
feet. Her hull is clipper built, with rigging about the same as a Chinese 
Junk. She is a close sailing boat, will lay 5 points to windward. The Santa 
Maria and Pinta are good sailors before the wind, but the Nina, because 
she can be close hauled, is a much swifter boat for general sailing. 

The Nina is armed with two Falconet cannon. 

It was the Nina, the smallest boat of the fleet, that on her third trip 
to the new world, returned to Spain with Columbus on board a prisoner 
in chains. 

No. 4. THE CABIN OF COLUMBUS. 



The Cabin occupied by Columbus on the Santa Maria is situated under 
the poop deck, and extends across the ship. It is the same in size and 
arrangement as the one on the original boat. In this cabin we have endeav- 
ored to present a very realistic scene en route on the voyage of 1492. The 
great Admiral is seated on a chair at the side of a table. He is in the 
midst of an animated discussion with one of his officials, who stands at the 
opposite side of the table. Let us presume that this official is the worthy 
Historiographer. On the table are strewn maps and instruments such as 
were used daily by Columbus in his calculations. The Admiral is pointing 
to a particular portion of one of the maps, and judging from the pleased 
expression on his face has made clear to the Historiographer the points of 
his argument. 

The costumes of both figures are true to the period. The head of 
Columbus as used in this scene is the same model as used by the Government 
on the Columbian half dollars — and is taken from the Lotto portrait. The 
Table shown is a duplicate of the one from the Genoa home of Columbus. 
The Chairs are of the Columbus period. The Spanish Sea Chest in the 
corner of the cabin was used in the days of Columbus. In the back part 
of the cabin is a Bed of the Columbus period, and such a one as the 
Admiral used. The Crucifix on the wall was made in the early part of the 
Fifteenth Century. 

The Flag of Castile and Leon, and the Royal Pennant, which were 
taken ashore by Columbus when he first landed in the New World, have 
a place in the Cabin. They have been reproduced from hand-colored photo 
plates furnished by The Hispanic Society of America, New York, thru the 
favor of Dr. W. R. Martin, Librarian. They are correct in every detail. 



MAPS OF THE COIiU»IBUS PERIOD. 

The map feature of the Columbus Cabin exhibit is of peculiarly intense 
interest, and of high educational value. By perrqission of The Hispanic So- 
ciety of America, New York, thru the courtesy of Dr. E. L. Stevenson, Secre- 
tary, we show photographic hand-painted reproductions of three important 
maps and charts of the Fifteenth Century, similar in kind with which Co- 
lumbus was acquainted. For protection these maps have been framed and 
faced with glass. Our descriptions of these maps were taken from "Maps, 
Reproduced as Glass Transparencies," "Portolan Charts," and "Genoese 



OFFICIAL GUIDE 5 

World Map," by permission of the author, Edward Luther Stevenson, Ph.D., 
and the publishers, The Hispanic Society of America, and The American 
Geographical Society. 

Genoese World Map, 1457. — (Shown on Cabin Wall). The author of 
this map is unknown, but he was undoubtedly a Genoese. The map bears 
date 1457. Its oblong shape gives the longitude of the world as practically 
twice the latitude. The original of this map is now the property of the 
Italian Government. Dr. Stevenson says: 

"The map belongs to a period of transition. Ptolemy had been recovered 
and was becoming anew a teacher of geography to the peoples of Europe. 
Prince Henry's explorers were now feeling their way down the coast of 
Africa, and through the word of their discoveries were contributing a fresh 
interest to those eager to learn of regions that were remote. Central and 
eastern Asia, the islands of the Indian Se£is and of the neighboring eastern 
waters, while yet the home of myths and marvels, were rapidly becoming 
better known to the West through the reports of traders and travelers. 
Our map-maker surpasse.** his contemporaries, as Professor Fisher has noted, 
in exhibiting an effort to bring into harmony the ancient and the mediaev£(,l 
geographical ideas with those of his own day. The map has great scientific 
importance. It attracts by reason of its nunierous legends, its architectural 
subjects, its crowned kings, and its marvelous animals of land and sea." 

Portolan Chart of Roselli, 1468. — (Shown on table before Columbus). 

Its author, Petrus Roselli, belonged to a famous school of Majorcan cartog- 
raphers. Dr. Stevenson regards this chart as one of great importance 
on account of its age and geographical detail. He says: 

"The chart hag numerous radiating lines and two small compass roses. 
A very unusual and interesting feature for a chart of this character is the 
representation of the winds by four wind-heads. It includes the Mediter- 
ranean, and the Black Sea, the whole of Europe except Russia and the 
Scandinavian region, the North coast of Africa, the Canary, the Madeira, 
and the Azores Islands. In the Atlantic there are numerous fabulous 
islands including "brazil," "ilia de moni" (man) "antilia," "tamar." * ; * * 
Across the north of Africa stretches the Atlas range of mountains; the 
Alps are represented in Europe; the Carpathian in Austro-Hungary; the 
Sierra Nevada in Spain, and Mount Sinai in northwestern Arabia. * * * 
The tents in the interior of Africa give a rather undue prominence to the 
rulers of that section. On the north coast of Africa are numerous Moham- 
medan banners; on the west coast are those of Portugal; the Papal banner 
flies over Avignon; those of Castile and Aragon give prominence to Spain. 

* * * An interesting survival from early Christian centuries is the idfea 
of giving to the Red Sea a color appropriate to its name, and this idea, 
together with the representation at its northern extremity of the crossing 
of the Israelites, finds expression on most of the portolan charts which 
include that region. * * * Charts such as these served the early sea- 
men of the Mediterranean, the early navigators along the Atlantic coasts of 
Europe and Africa, and Columbus himself with his companions and his 
contemporaries in their great enterprises." 

World Map of Juan de la Cosa, 1500. (Shown on Cabin Wall.) 

Dr. Stevenson says: "This map, the work of a companion and ofl[icer of 
Columbus on his first trans-Atlantic voyage. (De la Cosa was part owner 
and commander of the Santa Maria), is the oldest known map on which 
the New World is represented. An inscription on the left tells us that 
"Juan de la Cosa made it at the Port of Santa Maria (near Cadiz, Spain), 
in the year 1500." * * * The New World appears on the left, not 
accurately drawn, but with so near an approach to accuracy as to enable 
us to identify numerous localities represented on the Atlantic Coast. 

* * * The West Indian Islands are conspicuous, giving evidence of a 
fairly accurate knowledge of the island of Cuba. * * * The map exhibits 
some of the characteristics of the mediaeval cloister maps, telling in picture, 



6 OFFICIAL GUIDE 

for example, of the Wise Men coming out of the East guided by the Star, 
and of Gog and Magog, the destructive races of northeast Asia, doubtless 
meaning thereby the Mongols or Tartars." 

Martin Behaim Globe, 1492. Standing near Columbus in the cabin is 
an authorized reproduction of the Martin Behaim Globe, the oldest known 
terrestrial globe. For some years the only copies of this famous globe in 
the United States was the one in possession of The American Geographical 
Society and the one in the National Museum at Washington. The one in the 
Columbus cabin is the third to be shown in this country. We deem it proper 
to show this globe in the Columbus cabin because it was made in 1492. We 
quote Dr. Stevenson: 

"The author (Behaim) had spent some years in Portugal, perhaps had 
met Columbus and tallied over with him the problem of western oceanic ex- 
ploration, and may have influenced him with his geographical ideas. The 
globe is one of striking interest because of its date and because of its sum- 
mary of geographical knowledge recorded at the very threshold of a new era. 
Behaim tells us that his map was based upon Ptolemy, upon the travels 
of Marco Polo and of Sir John Mandeville, and upon the explorations carried 
on by King John of Portugal. » * * The New World very naturally 
does not appear on the globe. The author has much underestimated the 
distance from Portugal to China, erroneously representing Japan as near 
the actual longitude of Mexico." 

No. 5. COLUMBUS ANCHOR . 

This is one of the anchors carried by Columbus on the Santa Maria, on 
the cruise of 1492. It was lost at the time of the wreck of the Santa Maria, 
off the shore of Hayti, Christmas Eve, 1492, and recovered in 1891 or 1892, 
and sent by the Government of Spain to the World's Fair, as one of the 
interesting relics exhibited on the replica of the Santa Maria. The anchor 
was hand-made in Madrid, Spain, in 1450, and originally weighed 2,300 
pounds. Long confinement in the water has caused the anchor to loose 
considerable of its weight. When first recovered large pieces of rust scale 
were easily detached from the anchor. 

No. 6. STOVE. 



The stove exhibited is a re-production of the kind of stove used in the 
Fifteenth Century, and such as Columbus used on the Santa Maria. Char- 
coal and wool was the fuel used. Near the stove we exhibit various utensils 
of the Columbus period. All the copper utensils are hand-made. 

No. 7. AZIMUTH COaiPASS . 

The Azimuth compass shown on the Santa Maria, is the official repro- 
duction of the Compass as used by Columbus. The Azimuth circle attach- 
ment is intended for taking bearings of the sun to correct errors from the 
local attraction of iron. The compass occupies the same position on the 
boat, as it did when used by Columbus, on the rnain deck aft, and just for- 
ward of the rudder tiller arm, mounted in a bittacle (now called binnacle) 
box. It is a needle compass of sixteen points, and is quickly affected by the 
magnetism of the earth. It has the picture of the Madonna and Child on the 
compass card, a custom of the period in which it was used. This motto 
appears: "Stella maris, miserere nobis!" ("Star of the Sea! Do thou have 
for us compassion!") 

Beside this compass of the Fifteenth Century, we show a modern liquid 
compass, having 32 points and 360 degrees. 



OFFICIAL GUIDE 7 

No. 8 FAIiCONET. 

Falconet was the name used in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries 
for the smallest class of cannon. The ones shown on the Santa Maria were 
made in Spain in the Fifteenth Century, and like the Lombardia are the 
same kind as the ones carried by Columbus. They have been mounted 
on the gunwale presumably in the same positions on the boat that they 
occupied on the voyage in 1492. They swing on a swivel from side to side, 
can be raised or lowered, permitting their being fired from most any position 
or angle. By driving out the flat curved fin or wedge that runs thru the 
brace extending beyond the rear of the cannon, a section of the gun is 
easily removed for loading. This removable section was known as a powder 
holder, and in this powder holder was placed the powder, wad and ball — 
the firing charge. The priming and firing was done at the touch hole in 
the rear portion of the powder holder. It is reasonable to presume that 
from this style of Falconet originated the idea of the breech loading cannon, 
and the movable gun-carriage of today. The Falconet on the Santa Maria, 
six in number, have from 1 inch to 1 % inch bore. The small Cannon 
Balls and Hemp Wads shown were used in these guns. 

No. 9. LOMBARDIA. 



The cannon of the Fifteenth Century known as Lombardia, were among 
the largest cannon of that time. The manner of handling this style of 
cannon was very crude compared to the present day methods. The cannon 
was merely lashed by stout rope to a large wooden block, which was the 
only carriage provided for the gun. The Lombardia were mainly used at 
the port holes, but were taken when need required, to various parts of the, 
boat. They are muzzle loading and fired from a touch hole at the extreme 
top base of the gun. The Lombardia shown on the Santa Maria, four in 
number, have 2 % inch bore, and were made in the Fifteenth Century. 
In service the projectiles used were the stone cannon balls, shown near the 
cannon. The Hemp Wads shown were also used. If the charges of powder 
employed were of a quantity such as we are accustomed to at the present 
day, and the powder then used contained only a part of the strength of the 
gun explosives as now made, what a fearful recoil there must have been 
to these guns whenever fired. Compared to the monster guns on our battle- 
ships of today, what toys the Lombardia become. 

No. 10. THE SHIP'S PRISON. 

This interesting feature of the flagship is located in the hold of the 
boat, at the extreme stern. Small and cramped, it must have been the 
scene of undescribable horrors on the voyage of discovery. The opening 
in the stern was not in the original boat, the prison being utterly devoid 
of light, barren of all furniture, a place to be abhorred. The crew of 1492 
was made up mostly of released Spanish life convicts, impressed into service 
for the cruise, a promise of pardon given if they returned. There was also 
a sprinkling of pirates and adventurers in the crew. It is therefore easy 
to imagine that the ship's prison was never unoccupied but rather that it 
was at all times crowded with inmates. Two desperate characters of the 
crew prominent in mutiny, are shown in the prison in irons. There is a 
devilish leer on the face of the one kneeling at the side of the prison next 
to the hospital, because he has been interrupted in his pastime of watching 
the dying agonies of the hospital inmate. Utter indifference is depicted 



8 OFFICIAL GUIDE 

on the face of the one in a lounging position at the side of the prison. 
A matter of comment is the lightness of the iron bars and the inside walls. 
One must remember that prisoners were chained to the floor. 

No. 11. THE SHIP'S HOSPlTAIi . 

Located in the hold of the boat at the extreme stern, and separated 
from the prison by a partly barred partition, is the ship's hospital. It is 
singular that the hospital was so placed, but space on the boat was at a 
jxremium. It needs no stretch of imagination for you to fully realize how 
truly unfortunate were those of the crew that necessity placed in the 
hospital. Think of this small boat having on board a crew of over a half 
hundred rough, desperate men, whose former lives made them an easy prey 
to disease, and you can readily believe that only the most severe cases 
ever reached the hospital, and not even all of the severe cases. Privation, 
suffering, untold horrors here aplenty without a doubt. One poor sailor is 
shown lying on a mat on the floor of the hospital, and evidently in the 
last stages of his suffering. It is an imaginary scene. 

MISCEIiliANEOUS. 

Bow Guns and Arrows , such as were used by the men under Columbus, 
are shown on the port side of the boat, between decks. 

Boarding Spears and Battle Axes of the type used on the original cruise, 
are shown on the starboard side of the main deck. As their name indicates 
these weapons were used mainly in repelling boarding parties. 

Stone and Lead Cannon Balls, as shown near the cannon, are all hand- 
made productions of the Fifteenth Century. 

Hemp Wads, as shown with the cannon balls, were used to hold the 
powder in the cannon effectively, and frequently served the purpose of set- 
ting fire to the object at which the cannon was fired. 

THE SCHOOL ESSAY EXHIBIT. 



Under the canopy that extends from the side of the ship, at each side 
of the gang plank, you will find the prize essays of the school of the cities 
where the Santa Maria has been exhibited during the present cruise. These 
essays are extremely interesting, and well worth the time necessary to look 
them over. 



OFFICIAL GUIDE 9 

BUIIiDING THE BOATS. 

The building of the replica of the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina, the 
three boats that composed the 1492 fleet of Columbus, was a happy con- 
ception of the late Honorable William E. Curtis, of Chicago, Illinois, 
U. S. A., a noted and much loved newspaper correspondent. At the time 
(1891), Mister Curtis was a representative of the United States Government, 
as Chief of the Latin-American Department, Madrid, Spain. The Govern- 
ment officials of Spain, and especially Queen Maria Christina, were greatly 
impressed with the idea that duplicates of the Columbus boats be built and 
sent to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago. The Government immediately 
appointed a Special Commission of Naval Architects and Archaeologists to 
carry out the plan. This Commission, after six months of most careful 
research, perfected their plans, and as a result of their work gave to us the 
Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina as we have them today. The replicas are 
therefore historically correct. Particularly is this true of the Santa Maria. 
This same Commission placed on board the Santa Maria most of the relics 
now being exhibited. 

The Santa Maria was built at the expense of the Spanish Government; 
the Pinta and Nina at the expense of the United States Government, Mister 
Curtis having secured an appropriation for that purpose. He also had 
general direction of the enterprise. Lieutenant W. McCarty Little, U. S. N., 
had immediate charge of the work, having been detailed as Naval Attache 
of the United States Legation at Madrid, Spain. 

The first appearance of the replicas of the Columbus boats before the 
Spanish people occurred at Huelva, Spain, October 10th to 14th, 1892, at 
the time of Spain's festivities in honor of the 400th anniversary of the 
New World discovery by Columbus. The boats went down the bay to meet 
the Queen of Spain as she approached from Cadiz, on the Royal Yacht, and 
were the greatest attraction at the celebration. 

On February IS, 1893, the replicas of the fleet of Columbus started 
from Spain for America, and the placing of the boats on exhibition at the 
World's Fair. The Santa Maria crossed the Atlantic under her own sail, 
commanded by Captain Victor M. Concas, of the Spanish Navy. She was 
manned by Spanish sailors, convoyed by a Spanish man-of-war. 

The Pinta and Nina were towed across the Atlantic. The Pinta was 
commanded by Lieutenant Howard, of the United States Navy, manned 
by Union jackies, convoyed by the U. S. cruiser Bennington. The Nina was 
commanded by Lieutenant Colwell, of the U. S. Navy, also manned by U. S. 
sailors, convoyed by the U. S. cruiser Newark. 

The boats followed the course traveled by Columbus in the Fifteenth 
Century, stopping at the original landing place of Columbus. About the 
middle of March following, at Havana, Cuba, the Caravels Pinta and Nina 
were turned over to Spanish commanders and sailors, and so manned they 
joined the Santa Maria and participated in a number of important events 
prior to their arrival at the Columbian Exposition. 

The Comiiig of the Fleet. 

On a bright sunny morning in April, 1893, welcomed by the roar from 
the guns of the navies of the world as a hearty salute, the Santa Maria, 
the flagship of Admiral Christopher Columbus, accompanied by the Pinta 
and Nina, sailed majestically into Hampden Roads, making their first 
appearance in the United States in the historic waters of Virginia. 

Thus, after over four hundred year.s, came the replicas of the three 
boats used by the fearless navigator, the great Columbus, when he sailed 



10 OFFICIAL GUIDE 

out into unknown waters in that remarkable voyage of 1492, that blazed 
the way to a new continent and made possible the countries that control 
the Americas of today, North, Central and South. 

It was the year of the Columbian World's Fair, and the replicas of 
the fleet of Columbus were on their way from Spain to the "White City," 
the magic city beautiful reared on the shores of Lake Michigan, in the 
section now known as South Park, Chicago, Illinois. 

As one of the events of that memorable year of Columbus' celebration, 
the navies of the world had assembled at Hampden Roads for a naval 
review. The coming of the Caravels of Columbus to this gathering of the 
fighting craft of the prominent nations of the world, marked an event of 
peculiar interest and novelty. 

The North River, New York, the occasion the Grand Naval Review and 
Peace Jubilee Celebration, was the event of greatest importance in which 
the Caravels participated on their cruise to the World's Fair. This event 
immediately followed the Hampden Roads review. Here, also, appeared 
the representative battleships of the navies of the world. 

One writer of the times, telling of the celebration, says: "The noise 
made by the guns of this great assemblage of fighting crafts when saluting 
President Cleveland during his review, was surely heard as far west as 
Chicago." This same writer says further: "The one noteworthy feature of 
this remarkably long continued salute, was the pop-gun like reports of the 
small guns on the Columbus boats, in contrast to the roar of the guns on 
the modern boats." The magnitude of this salute to President Cleveland 
can be somewhat grasped, when we tell you that one thousand six hundred 
cannon were used. The President's salute consists of twenty-one shots, or, 
in naval parlance, "Twenty-one guns." President Cleveland gave special 
recognition to the salute from the Santa Maria. 

At the time of the erection of the Columbian World's Fair Buildings, 
at the earnest solicitation of the late Honorable William E. Curtis, the old 
monastery near Palos, Spain, the Santa Maria de la Rabida, (Saint Mary 
of the Frontier), was reproduced as one of the Fair's attractions. It was 
at this monastery that Columbus found the friends whose steadfast help 
and influence made possible the voyage of discovery. At this monastery 
came to Columbus that great change in his fortune that later gave to the 
world Columbus the Discoverer. When Columbus renamed the boat that 
was to be his flagship on his voyage of 1492, in remembrance of that which 
happened at the monastery, he christened the boat the Santa Maria. Because 
of this association, the quaint old La Rabida was reproduced at the Colum^ 
bian Exposition. It remains standing today as one of the attractions of the 
South Park. 

The welcome given the Caravels on their arrival at the Columbian 
World's Fair Grounds, Chicago, in May, 1893, was a fitting climax to an 
eventful cruise of over nine thousand miles, by the most remarkable craft 
afloat. 

Captain Victor M. Concas, of the Spanish Navy, commander of the 
Columbus fleet on this voyage, in his response to the masterly address of 
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, welcoming the boats and the men that brought 
them, said: 

"You know how four hundred years ago a handful of Spanards, headed 
by a man not a Spainard, but soon to be one, came to this country and 
discovered a New World for humanity. I have the honor to bring to you 
three ships built in the same land, patterened exactly after the ships he 
directed. His crew was Spanish. Our crew is of the same blood, and 
animated by the same spirit. As did his ships, so did ours sail from Palos. 



OFFICIAL GUIDE U 

We left behind us at the outset of our journey the walls of the old convent 
La Rabida, and at the end of our journey, a journey greater than that of 
the Great Admiral, and in ships the counterpart of his, we are welcomed 
by the sight of the same La Rabida here in your splendid "White City." 
By special commission and authority of His Majesty, King of Spain, our 
fleet had come under the old flag of Castile and Leon. Spain wishes to 
celebrate properly the marvelous event. She could not send the same men 
or the same ships, but she has sent copies. This flag embodies all the 
history and legends of Spain. Were all else to disappear, were Spain and 
Europe to be wiped from the face of the earth, yet would this flag and its 
unforgotten legends be the first pages in American history. Those tradi- 
tions will never die, for America will live forever." 

At the close of the World's Fair, with the passing into oblivion of the 
wonderful "White City," the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina were taken in 
charge by the South Park Commission, of Chicago. During all the years 
that have passed since the close of the Fair, the South Park Commission 
have cared for the Columbus Caravels. By the side of the old monastery 
La Rabida, in a Park lagoon, the boats found safe anchorage. 

As a matter of history detail, September 12, 189 3, the Santa Maria was 
presented to the United States by Queen Christina, of Spain; March 12, 
1896, by Act of Congress the Caravels became the property of the Field 
Columbian Museum, Chicago; August, 1901, the Field Columbian Museum 
presented the three boats; to the South Park Commission, Chicago. 



The Unique Educational Cruise. 

The flight of time has recorded over twenty cycles since these inter- 
esting crafts reached our shores, each cycle leaving in its wake the history 
of our Nation's big strides forward, outward, and upward. 

One of our Nation's achievements of this period is the completion of 
the Panama Canal — the uniting by a ship's highway of two great oceans. 
This monster accomplishment of the United States Government is of World 
wide importance. Natural, proper and deserving, is the Pjxposition Celebra- 
tion in honor of the event. Equally natural, proper and deserving is it that 
the fine replica of the Santa Maria, the Columbus Flagship, the gracious gift 
of the Spanish Government through the kind thoughtfulness of a beloved 
Queen, to the United States and her people, should be exhibited as a part of 
the Exposition celebration. It was the coming of the Santa Maria to our 
shores, guided by the dauntless Admiral, that that which the Exposition cel- 
ebrates was made a possibility. 

When the proposed Panama- Pacific Exposition at San Francisco, became 
a certainty, Mr. Chas. Stephenson, a former rowing coach for the Harvard 
Varsity crew, placed before the South Park Commission a plan for taking 
the Santa Maria to the Panama-Pacific Exposition, exhibiting her there and 
afterward returning thp boat to Chicago. The plan embodied the exhibiting 
of this replica of the craft of the Fifteenth Century, and the wonderful relics 
the boat contains, at prominent ports en route as an historical educational 
exhibit. In this way millions of citizens who had never seen the craft, and 
who would not attend Expositions, would have the opportunity of visiting 
the boat. It was shown that the exhibit would have great value to all school 
pupils who would be so fortunate as to be able to visit the boat and inspect 
its relics. The South Park Commissioners found favor with the plan, and 
gave Mr. Stephenson a contract leasing to him the boats for a period of 
time. For this contract, through an influential Boston friend, Mr. Stephen- 
son, gave ample bond. 



12 OFFICIAL GUIDE 

And so, this famous craft is again en route on a trip most singular. On 
this present cruise of the Santa Maria, true to the previous records of both 
original and replica, entirely new history is being made. As planned the 
present cruise will cover a distance four times that covered in 1492. It will 
take this history laden replica of the long ago into new water — water that 
the fearless navigator of the Fifteenth Century had really meant to sail. 

On the last day of August, 1913, the weather ideal, with streamers flying 
gaily. Old Glory and the flag of Spain proudly floating from her masts, the 
Santa Maria started from her anchorage at South Park, Chicago, Illinois, to 
the Panama-Pacific Exposition, San Francisco, California, on a cruise that 
will take four or more years to complete. The departure was an inspiring 
sight. By whistle and bell the steamers, tugs and launches — crafts of every 
kind along Chicago's lake front — bid the Santa Maria God speed on her way. 

To complete the cruise so started takes the Santa Maria thru Lake Mich- 
igan, Lake Huron, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, Lake 
Erie, the Welland Canal, and down the St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic 
Ocean. Following the Atlantic coast to Florida, it is proposed to circle the 
West Indies, and visit the original landing place of Columbus at San Sal- 
vador. Going from there to the Panama Canal, it is expected the boat will 
arrive in time to take part in the official opening of the Canal, in January, 
1915. 

Passing through the Panama Canal in company with the crafts repre- 
senting the nations of the world, and in each case the finest boats the 
various nations possess, what an object lesson the Santa Maria will be! The 
craft of the Fifteenth and Twentieth Centuries side by side; the replica of 
the boat that made the Canal a possibility participating in the formal opening 
of this gigantic human made waterway. The Admiral's light will be burning 
on the Santa Maria, his chosen flagship, and surely it seems reasonable to 
believe that in spirit Columbus will be on board his boat. And thus will 
sail the Santa Maria into new water. 

Leaving the Panama Canal, the flagship will proceed to the Golden 
Gate, San Francisco, California, and come to temporary rest as a part of the 
Panama-Pacific Exposition. 

Homeward Bound. 

At the close of the Exposition the Santa Maria, homeward bound, will 
return thru the Panama Canal, thru the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi 
River. She will navigate the "Father of Waters" up to the mouth of the 
Chicago Drainage Canal, return to the waters of Lake Michigan, and resume 
her permanent home under the shadows of the old monastery Santa Maria 
de la Rabida, South Park, Chicago, Illinois. 

Then will be completed a remarkable cruise by a remarkable craft. 
Rich in history of her own the Santa Maria will ever after be an object of 
increased interest to all visitors to this famous Chicago park. She will have 
greatly added value to every American, and to every lover of the fearless 
navigator and discoverer. Admiral Christopher Columbus. 

As a closing paragraph it might be well to say, that it is a noteworthy 
fact, in constant evidence during all times of the previous exhibiting of the 
boat, just this: People see the comparatively small Santa Maria, and seeing 
the boat Columbus becomes a greater man in their opinion than ever before. 
They marvel at the dauntless courage of the man who used a boat like this 
and sailed out into an unknown ocean of darkness and many terrors. 



colijmbus letter 



13 



1 6 U€>'iK poiqacfc qnj 'aiird 3 ^In^^t^i^vino ^'toria qnt m<^.:> fetiofme 



^^*^ ba baoo cii, npvmtvoB d'crnio eRa porla ^. fabrefs coino eH»njitc dias pafcS 

ri?^^ '4^ '^'^ ^"^^'^ ^'^^'^ niucb.t5 ^fJ^s^pobUoas cd genre Iir iimncw : f od.'S tooA( 

^^i^M^^fyc torn it>opoMm p:>i (a^ alt£5as con prcgo!i f uaocraffcal eftcnoida ;' non nicfii 

< cor. <ciu"oo 'ifli-iprimera q fofatlcpafcHoubrcJanti4lu.ioo23CO}no»ciraacnjxr.i olu inflgcf 

tjtcl qu.?l maraihlloT^mcaetooo cib anoadolos idioe la ll.iiii.i!i (ju.iiuba'ii 2l!a fcgiiaj 

pule nonbre la ifla ts fairua inaria occonccpcion ala tcrcerd fmaiidDia ala qiurta la ifla bdla 

ala quUa I ? 3^* ^aana c afi a caoa v) iia noubrc migio ^uando ro Uegnc s»la ^^mn^ leg 

lii io la coila oeKa afp^nicntc yla falle tan gr.iu« q penfe quj fctia ticrr.i fiijuc la pjoaicia de 

cmyo f coriJOHo falk afi villas f lugiiarcs ola cofta oda mar faliio ptqucfiae poblacioucai 

can bgdUcalaa: ^lc5 nopooia bauer fabU po: qu: lac jo faf .m raoo3:aiidaiia j'o a oc 

iant^ po: d dtd>o camidopuaoo deuo cirar grades iCiudadcs o vi'las f al cabo ce mucba* . 

icgiias vtilo 4 no bauia tiiojucio 1 que la coita inc Icoana alfctctrian dc adodc mi voliintad ^ 

!..v. cofrai ia po tq d raicrtio era ya ccamado >'0 tenia pzopodto a ba5cr dd al aiilba f tail bie - 

d victo medio aidatc dctcnntne ocno aguardar ot:o tiepo f bolni atraa fafta vn fcfiaiadapact 

to oeadddecbic doe babres po:la ticrraparafabaftbaoia Kcfo grades Citidadeff 5d<?ai 

tio tr« loaiadas f ballazo ihuitag poblacioce pcoucTiag i getc i'j iiu hkio jna» no cofa dticj 

iinicto pojl^ qualfcbolniezo fo mtedia barro cc ouo& idioe q ia tenia to:iiado3 cohio toiiti 

jiuari!ct€ cfta fici ra era ^ila c af? fcgiii la cofta dflla al onete dcito i ficte Icg'iad fafta Oode fa. 

5ia?HJ:odq«alcabo viotra'Jtlaal oricteoiftictaoedlaDJesoodjo Ugaatjala quillucg^" 

p'tlc noinbre U fp.ifiola y hi alU ? fcgin la parteod fc:cntrion afi como orb iiiana al cnctuc 

djxuiii grades Icguas po: lima recta dd onitt aft como ocla iuaua la qttil f toda« las otraf 

(0 \otu$im9_ «i cniiifiaoo graoo v efta cndhtino m dla af nm(bo9 pncrtoe oila^cofla oda 

mar fi coparacio oe otro« q f o fepa en criftianoc f farros rrios y buenos f granocs q ce. mara 

vtUa las ticirae odia fo alras f c dla intif nnicbas ftcrras f inotaiias altiiriniae (i coparado 

oc ia '.fta Of cctrc fr. tODae f rinoWTHjas oc mil fecbaras f todae adabiles f llenas oc arbof* 

?v' mil inancr.19 taltasipareccii q llcgaal dclo^|%opozoicbo qwinas pieroclafoiaftgunld 

pueoe cS^bcocr q IO0 vi ta vcroes i ti bcrinofoscomo (o po; mavo en fpaiia i od\o9(Jtmifioi 

nooo odloo CO fvino i ocllos enotr^jternimo fcgfies fa calioao i caca»a d rutfc^oi icuc^f^ 

xaricoe Dtmil maneras cHdwc6oeBOttiebrepo:allto6oe 10 aDauaafpalma^otfcwiJOf 

oc bo maiicras q ce aomiracion wlae pot la oifoaiiidao j^rmcfa odlac tnae aficcwo I09 • 

•otzoe arbolee f fmtoe cicmae en dla af pmaresanarauilla ear can^nas graoiinmaa taf^0 ■ ' 

«l 1 t>cmuco'asm.i.5craex)eaiK0 fJhitae mur^erfaetnlasntnataf nittcbatfoiinaepenw 

tabuaf gctciibraabiUHnmdo 3taffaiiola cs iferauiUalaftcnrasftaefnotanasflaa N^a« 

ilae campiwe y bs tterr^etanftrmof^^fgrHctadparaplaBtarfftbrar pacziarganaoo* oet* 

oa| tuivfi^ para bcoifjcioe oc vilti« dw^re^ be poertos nda ma|aqui no banria Sjcnoa Ha ^ 

vito|t>t*lo.fr«id^ auic!>oe)!')5iai©CBf bsaiaeagua^loei^ a^b*' > 

lee ffj8te.ee fewr.e s^f grgiiDCi> oiffaajciae 9:aq«d las ciaiBiina oi cfta af imicbae fjrcjc '':r 



i«»''^ 










nvieir gmn v*» ajjr.^0C.>*.4;«iafi5(L! 



X^eoic v^iftn ^**' 



fijilvioof |?9&ic3'niii;ra i>ai:KX> nottm a»3tan tobds fe^iiipWtriob 



'.aiog«ce%t c<m0 




•< rt p<.>?ivt} q! c.^bo iTH pi'.u'io ajjico eno vi^» vfaiDcaqllas que ^ , 
c!W:o t;l•.c:!;^:w^un.1vi#« obTC© b^!^b;i» alg8Sawla|?afc«8a{a|4^. 



.^ 



(See Page 25 for ExplanationJ 



14 COLUMBUS LETTER 



d xi'jfmio-.y oc;puc3 q l^e ¥C)'aUegdr|i|r3n a no a^i^raarpabic a biio feToS no pot que a :il 
^Mo fe afa bed>o mjl antes a tono coi to'aowjWTO ajM cflaoo f pooroo baucr fabla lc9 bcoa 
DO cc toxfo loquc idiia afi pajio coiiio ©irae cofas mucbae Q recctnf pot^. cofa alguama* ^ 
(o aft fcmeiofoe finrciiicDio;ticrDao ef qucocfpues qiicafcguran v r«rDca^tiaisi5f el^ 
tantofi cn^jiiof tJii libcralco odoq riaie que no locrccrian uno el qlo vicfctcUogiwco^ijap^:- ' 
tcgan pidieoogcU lamas oi^e oeno '^mcs cojidan Ijpfona cb cUo f mucllran tato anioi que^ .; . 
Ottrian los cora5oiiC6 y quic:c fea cofa ocualo: quicii f;aoepo(Co |; rcao locgo poj qual quLt T/^^^^ 
ra coficJ oc qual quiffa mancra qucfca q felcocpozclb Tea cotaitos:ro oefoiot q nofdce o c 
foi cofae tanfrntlcecomo peoa^s oc d'aioillja louo t pcDajo? oe vidiio zoto ycabof oaga 
gctaeJjau que quaso cUos <fto pooii llcfl;.ir los parcfcia b Jucr laincioz wfa od imioo. que 
(c acoTo ba'«r vn niarmezo po: vua agugeta oe ozo ocpcfoctoos caftdlanos y mcoio-.foUoQ 
oeoa'.i9cofa9qittOfm3ic6\?al!ainucboMtaef.ipo:lilaca0nucua«oauan po: dlaa tooo 
qnaitto t ttiitabad que ftidcoos nimf caftclljiiou ccozo o viia arjana o D09 oe atgooofiia 
00 Fafta IO0 pa>3$09 ddos arcos zotos odasJ pipas to'?v;nan voauan loq toiian coino bih 
oe afi que tne parcdo tuabfo lo^cfcoj foaia fo giacicfa^ iml colas bncnae q jo ioiaua pot 
que tojiicn aino: f alleoa odlo fc fara crifhanoo que fciclinan al amozcccnucio oc fas altcsas 
f octODa la nacio cafldlana : cp^ocura oc niut.ir oc iios oar oclqs cofae que fate cti abunoa 
aa que no? fo neccfiarias y no conociau iiic^iiua fcra ni tcolalrui taliio que tooos cran q las 
fijfycas fclbie cs eiilado f crciannmf firmc n cyo cd.-ftosnsutcs rgeiucteiua oclcidofaiul 
catainicnto me rccebiati cntooo cabo ccfpufs ocb-Tucr poioo clmicoo r cfto no pzoceocpo:q 
fean ig'ioraiitcs faleo ocmtif fotil fgcnio y obrce que iraucgai; tco.'.s aqudlas I'lares que eg 
♦narauilla Libucna cuciua qudlosoan oetoopfalno pozquau'ica vieio gctc vcftioa nil'enjcian 
tcs naiitos ^ac^o que lege alas icias ela pri iiaa ifia q ballc toiiicpfoz5a algunoe alios pa 
ra que nprcoicfcn mc oicle nona tdc qrc aiH.i aiaqudlas paircs eafi fue que lucgo etcndiro 
7nos acllos quando poz Icngua o:enas;f dies ban aproucdjaoomucboof cnoia los traigo 
qficpre cftii ccpiopofito q vcgo od cjelo po: mudoa coYcrfifio q af an banido cwnlgo y eftos 
cra:i las priiucros apzonunaarlo aoonoc yo llcgana y loo orzos anoauan coznendo dccafa e 
<3fa:f.ilj3 vul4» ccrcauas c5 boBce alras rciiit :vctiu aucr lagcntcod ddo afi todoe bobres 
<on»o mngers dcfpucs ocbaticrelccra^dfcguzo cc ncs vcnia q no cadatia grandenipequctio 

Eodoo rrajfaan algu decomer fdeboKt quedauan f5 vn anioz inaraninofo elloe riene lodas 
Sfflas mn)r* nutcbascancvas aniancradeftiftcs dcrcnio dclliis inatoras ddlas mcnorco ral 
gimas '.vmufbasfdHiafcrcsqiicbnaftiftadcdic^eixbobciccsinofotaAautbae pozqucio 
dd^an fob madczo niaa bnna fut>a norem^ co dlas alrcino pozquc van quaio cs cofa occre 
cr f CO dbs nauegau tooas aqudlas ifias q (o inuincipble?:f mate fns niccadcriastalgun as 
tc(la<^ cauoas be vifto co Ixx j-tiyrobrc^ c.icUa r cada vuo c6 luicino cmodas eftas iflas no * 

videinucba otiietfidad dcla fabura cda gaur ni en las coftunibres di enla l«ngBa:falnc qttr 
lodoo fe owcndcn q ctcofa may ffgular para lo que cipao q ectcnninaran fns ftUcjas para la 
<5ucrfacio ddlos a nocftra fanrafic ala quall^ ma/dtfpncftos fa oixc como yobim cu?ado 
evil leguaepozla coda oda mar poj ladcraba Una csofidcrc ac neutc per la aia juana fcgu d 
qtial c* mmo poedo ocTir que cfb tila cfniaior que mglaterra f cfccfia mmas po: c^riiUcdt dcf 
tag cyu.legua9mcqagd»-ada pane dcponi3iigtK>g p a) u i ui jt > qoctoffc^ attoado-lavna de 
lao ^es QanHin anau:ao6ae rtafc lagctc cocola las qHcs pzouiilas nopocDoi ttucr wlogum 
ttciioaoe. Lo {ykgaaefcgunpurdcentaiocr ddlos icios qu yo ta>go loe ^faben tooo -^ 
las jrflascfta wza efpanota ridacoticnenias quclaa'pafla tooadeicccctoofa poicofta oc Ov 
mar hdt f»^ raaia en aifcafa pucs en vna quaor^ anotuic drrrvai grwiD&Ugiiae po: rec \^ ^ 
M<'—'oe<Kdocnta orioitcclb;»csparaod*car:e\ cs pars' Runacc^cnk qual pue do 7 
^ tcj^a totac ^ polite poz fus altc;as nooaa fean n^o^'ib^zxte odo <yncH^£ 
'^CDt<"'lJTi;trciij|C>po?0»'?^'tn,'o •rK3c''<Ta''^"<"^''' *" '^' ' "" ■-■■' ^^" ' -f 

(See Page 25 for Explanation) 



COLUMBUS LETTER 15 



l^dotitcttcoinoodos iRqi^^jCK^ DC cafllS^«6i^^^i>l3 *n dlugir was cottcmbU ffiidor 
^^t|>marc4p9rd{aannp^^osaf|)eto;;otraioafiocIanaTa6nneoc9<iit^ comooea qucOa 
' jn«^j^inS5>CDaura gratip ctjto egan.iiwia bctomaro peffdfid cc vna villa gran 
fptflbidbrc U vilb oaiaaioaoifcu dla bcfccbo fticrja jr foaalc5a que fa acJlaebo 
Kr^ od to >o aabaoa 7bcc>craoo etidla gam que abafta para fcmciante fcdjo 06 annaf 
'/ "f aitcUanas cwwall^s poi mas dc p« aiio yf iift^ f matfco ddj mar cntodas artca para fa 5<r 
<scwi« fgrandcanuftad codlRty dc aqucUa ntrra en awo grado qucfe prcoaua done Uaiiiar f 
ttcncr poz bCTmano c baft que Ic mo£*afe la v« lutad a boftaiocr cilia gctc d mice fuioe nofabc 
. qoefmit armJa/'andan odnudoecano fabe dkdo fo be mad toncdbs que a)? oi d iiifido 
iwfiqticfoUiiientcbgmtcqueaUaqueda es paraocftzcirtcdaaqudla rtcrra f cofftefipd'gro 
pe ftta pcriciW9 labicucfofcregir cntodae dla9 rflas mc parecequc todoe loe obres fcan cote 
.;iP9cd wtam.igeri afiiniaioral o"|{^^oanfaft3;t:efnre;ia9mugeresmepsrttceqttc trabap 
i. jnas que loe dbrca uibcpdoidio m tender fiKnienbJfiiespjopKfequeitftrfatecio ver q a qllo 
"^ <|ue vito tenia tpdoa bajiau parte en efpccial cdas^jfaswoitKceae ciKftije idas faftaai|»( 
no beballado obrce inoftnidoe como inucboe pcalaiian niao antes eitoda gete conur Imw;-*^ 
acatanHcnto lu I'o iKgios cofito cgitai^ falHc cdtji^^afeeltp^orrcdioc fiidartan adodcaf 
f peto oemafiaop ddoe rafoe folarce ce vcrdad qvd k\ atm^^^ g^aud ftjcrca pudte quccsdi 
<iffiJitaoda linafquj liocial veiK efae gjFtdee cii eftas itfeaaa^deaf mariiae grandee -Mf tarn ^j 
a fufca d frio die f uicrno: luiselloo lo fufrcn poia coihunbre que cola ajnida odae viatidae 1 

tomcn cdefixaaa m4chae f inuf catientes cnoeiiiafta:gfiquenio(huoe wobebaltado nmoti 
<U laiuo oe vnaKU que ee aqui ciila fcguiida ala oitr.ida cdae fiidiao q ee pobladi oe'^a 
Kotfc que ticuc ert tooas lae f (lae pox muf fezo^e^ toe quallee coinc caznc vmaua dloe tienc 
tnadbae cattaue i»la« quake co:rc todae U3 ft'ae ce idia :d)a j-tonia quanto (MtedcneUotii 
tio4» T i w » w(K > CT teg rae toe ot^oe faluo qtiaie auofttunbreixtraar loe cabeftog larg^ccw 
omogerea f vfan arcoe f flecbae odae n^iitae arinae oteaiiap c5 vii patiUo akabo po:ottcc 
Ioocficrwqnotienefdret«5e6cutredloeot«>epnefcloeii'ef5cocmaludogrado couardca ^ 

mas fO no be tcngo en uaoa iiiae que alos:ot:o» eftoe fo aqtidbo q trata colae im:gcrco 
dcinaonnonto q ce laprwnca yfla particndo afpatia para lae idiae q fc falla eiila quvil no aj' 
bdbf cmgouo:eUa0 ao via cjrcrac foiteml falao arc oe f frctbae conio loe Ibbrc dicb<»6 oc cami '■■ - 
flcannan fcobigan colaunee a araiubrc ocque tiene mud)o otra )ffla mefegiirari maf 02 q la "% 
Cl'panola cuquc lae pfouae no naic ningu cabello. rirn efta ay oio ft cueiuo f ocflae f odss a 
t t^9CMigocomigoioio6paratefti»noiiio:e(oclHfi6afcibbroeftofolviiiictequcfeafecbo die 
v^gt^)Ue fae^fi occoiflja que puede vafue altcjae qjro leedarc 020 quanto omoc nieiicilcr con 'J 
muf poquita afooaq foe altC5ae ineoara age«i ipt aanaj? algoco quato fus alte^ae ntadara ''. 
<argar f almallwa quanta mancaraiKcai gr,r e^cla qualfafta'of no fcba fallaoo faluo cii grc 
oa otla ff la oe pojrd ftnono la ttaiocco»»a ^icrc f ligjiijatoe qiiato inanoaran caicvar r ce 
dauoe quatoe in^Jarancargarereran^e^oef fjclairce f creo barer fallaDo ruj^baruo'if cauc 
la eotrae milcofae ocfuftanaa faj|a2cqti€|«i:fj^n falljioola! gcrc quefo >ila ocro po:qtic yo 
nomdxoetcmoo mgfi cabo cu quato diJicBtaiiie aia ^o i»i^i:oe«ai;cgar fobfnciitc a» la 
Villa DC naubao enquanto t^exeafegwaoiy^J^ien iii^itr>o j6 al*AjertiaD nuicljo mao ftcicra 
iibenaiiioemefiraicrau comcrajdocuiaUoifKia trtocebaztcf eteziiooioefecielbo fcncz 
d qual oa a toooe aqudloe q anpaii ti^ca/l^w^>lictcna.Ja' cofas qite pa.tccn iinpoJiblce:«[>a <; 

leJialaoamctcfiBela vmapo:qbauqiK6e|tastt!Cir.;s.niifFa[lat)oie£l'ciiptotoDovapoj to 
lecoira im alleg?r octufta faluo topreiiDicnoo a tanto que loe orctce loo mae limcbstaan c/ 
1 • '"^^"''" nwspoifabla quepojpoca c Dcllo afi que pnce ila£i^'o:■«^cDCl^t*?to^ocfta. vie 
I torta antjeftzoe ^llttftrifimoe rcf :erejjiv! eaf'^ rcjr.oe ^ainofoe o^fea alia cofsf ^IrcoctoDa 

(See Pagre 25 for Explanation) 



16 COLUMBUS LETTER 



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'5nr **«i<tSt«.S»«T: 




The Spanish Letter of Columbus 

TO 

LUIS DE SANT ANGEL 



On pages thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen you will find photo- 
graphic reproductions of the Spanish letter from Columbus to Santangel. 
On pages twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty and 
thirty-one, are photo etchings of the literal translation of this remarkable 
letter. 

The reproductions and etchings above noted are taken from a work, 
entitled: "The Spanish Letter of Columbus to Luis De Sant' Angel, Escribano 
de Racion of the Kingdom of Aragon, dated 15 February, 1493. Reprinted 
in facsimile, translated, and edited from the Unique Copy of the original 
edition (printed at Barcelona early in April, 1493), now in the possession 
of Bernard Quaritch, London." 

We are permitted to reproduce the Spanish print of tne letter and trans- 
lation, through the special favor of His Excellency, Senor Don Juan 
Riano, the Spanish Embassador, at Washington, who very graciously loaned 
the work for that purpose. This work is a rare book in itself, a very limited 
edition being printed in 1891. 

The Spanish printer brought out the letter in four pages, two folio 
leaves, and it is said by the learned ones who have translated the printed 
letter, that the printer was not a careful proof reader. It bears unmistakable 
evidence, we are told, of having been printed in the Catalonian part of 
Aragon, presumably in Barcelona in April, 149 3. When discovered, this 
folio print of the letter had four leaves of contemporary paper pasted to- 
gether and stitched to the printed letter, forming a sort of cover. From 
writings found therein, it is evident that the printed letter and fly leaves 
were companions for over 400 years, and were taken from Spain by some 
one connected with Toledo, who joined the suite of the Princess Juana, when 
she quitted Spain in 149 6. 

As the title page of the work states, it is truly a unique copy of the 
original that we are privileged to present to you. We are told that it is 
the only known copy in existence in the world today. The translation as 
given, is the result of very earnest study, and represents a vast amount of 
careful work, as the many foot notes indicate. The letter is intensely 
interesting, every line of it. 

Recalling your Columbus history you will understand why the Admiral 
addressed so comprehensive a letter to Luis de Santangel. He was one of 
the friends who had worked zealously for Columbus and his "great enter- 
prise," and who furnished funds to the Queen so that the project could be 
undertaken. 

(25) 



LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE FIRST EDITION OF COLUMBUS 
SPANISH LETTER TO LUIS DE SANT' ANGEL. 

Sir, 

As I know that you will have pleasure of the great victory which our Lord 
hath given me in my voyage, I write you this, by which you shall know that, in twenty'' 
days I passed over to the Indies with the fleet which the most illustrious King and 
Queen, our Lords, gave me : where I found very many islands peopled with inhabitants 
beyond number. And, of them all, I have taken possession for their Highnesses, with 
proclamation and the royal standard displayed ; and I was not gainsaid. On the 
first which I found, I put the name Sant Salvador, in commemoration of His high 
Majestv, who marvellously hath given'- all this: the Indians call it Guanaham.^ The 
second I named the Island of Santa Maria de Concepcion, the third Ferrandina, the 
fourth Fair hland^^ the fifth La Isla Juana ; and so for each one a new name. When 
I reached Juana, I followed its coast westvvardly, and found it so large that I thought it 
might be the mainland province of Cathay. And as I did not thus find any towns and 
villages on the sea-coast, save small hamlets with the people whereof I could not get 
speech, because they all fled away forthwith, I went on further in the same direction, 
thinking I should not miss of great cities or towns. And at the end of many leagues, 
seeing that there was no change, and that the coast was bearing me northwards, whereunto 
my desire was contrary since the winter was already confronting us,' I formed the purpose 
of making from thence to the South, and as the wind also blew against me, I determined 
not to wait for other weather and turned back as far as a port agreed upon ; from which I 
sent two men into the country to learn if there were a king, or any great cities. They 
travelled for three davs, and found interminable small villages and a numberless population, 
but nought of ruling authority; wherefore they returned. I understood sufficiently from 
other Indians whom I had already taken, that this land, in its continuousness, was an 
island ; and so I followed its coast eastwardly for a hundred and seven leagues as far as 
wb.ere it terminated; from which headland I saw another island to the east, ten o;'' 
eight leagues distant from this, to which I at once gave the name La Spanola. And I 
prtKceded thither, and followed the northern coast, as with La Juana, eastwardly for a 
luuidied and .$rz'(V//v'-eight great leagues in a direct easterly course, as with La 
Juana. The which, and all the others, are most strong* to an excessive degree, and this 
e.xtrc-meiv so. In it, there are many havens on the sea-coast, incomparable with any 
others that I know in Christendom, and plenty of rivers so good and great that it is 
a marvel. The lands thereof are high, and in it are very many ranges of hills, and most 

' ^'cinte, typographiLal bluiudcT for xxxiii. It is corrected in the quarto. 

' Andado in text, blunder for ha dado. ' Cuanaham, blunder for Cuanhani. 

' hla bella, blunder for Isabela. ' Encarnado in original for encarado or encarando. 

• Ten or eight (die;; o ocho) ought to be eighteen (diez c ocho). 

' Should be " eighty."' ' Fortissimos, should be fertilibimos : most fertile. 

(See Page 25 for Explanation) 



LITERAL TRANSLATION OF COLUMBUS SPANISH LETTER 27 

lofty mountams incomparably beyond the Island of Centrefrei ;' all most beautiful in a 
thousand shapes, and all accessible, and full of trees of a thousand kinds, so lofty that 
they seem to reach the sky. And I am assured that they never lose their foliage ; as 
may be imagined, since I saw thera as green and as beautiful as they are in Spain 
during May. And some of them were in flower, some in fruit, some in another stage 
according to their kind. And the nightingale was singing, and other birds of a thousand 
sorts, in the month of November, round about the way that I was going. There are 
palm-trees of six or eight species, wondrous to see for their beautiful variety ; but so 
are the other trees, and fruits, and plants therein. There are wonderful pine-groves, and 
very large plains of verdure, and there is honey, and many kinds of birds, and many various 
fruits. In the earth there are niany mines of metals; and there is a population of incalculable 
number. Spafiola is a marvel ; the mountains and hills, and plains, and fields, and 
land, so beautiful and rich for planting and sowing, for breeding cattle of all sorts, for 
building of towns and villages. There could be no believing, without seeing, such 
harbours as are here, as well as the many and great rivers, and excellent waters, most 
of which contain gold. In the trees and fruits and plants^ there are great differences 
from those of Juana. In this,'^ there are many spiceries, and great mines of gold and 
other raetals. The people of this island, and of all the others that I have found and 
seen, or not seen,' all go naked, men and women, just as their mothers bring them 
forth ; although some women cover a single place with the leaf of a plant, or a cotton 
something which they make for that pupose. They have no iron or steel, nor any 
weapons ; nor are they fit thereunto ; not because they be not a well-formed people 
and of fair stature, but that they are most wondrously timorous.'' They have no other 
weapons than the stems of reeds in their seeding state, on the end of which tlicy fix 
little sharpened stakes. Even these, they dare not use ; for many times has it happened 
that I sent two or three men ashore to some village to parley, and countless numbers 
of them sallied forth, but as soon as they saw those approach, they fled away in such 
wise that even a father would not wait for his son. And this was not because any 
hurt had ever done to any of them: — on the contrary, at every headland where I 
have gone and been able to hold speech with them, I gave them of everything which 
I had, as well cloth as many other things, without accepting aught therefor — ; but 
such they are, incurably timid. It is true that since thev have become more assured, 
and are losing that terror, thev are artless and generous with what they have, to such 
a degree as no one would believe but him who had seen it. Of anything they have, if it 
be asked for,^ they never say no, but do rather invite the person to accept it, and show 
as much lovingness as though they would give their hearts. And whether it be a thing 
of value, or one of little worth, they are straightways content with whatsoever trifle 
of whatsoever kind may be given them in return for it. I forbade that anything so 
worthless as fragments of broken platters, and pieces of broken glass, and strap-bucklfs 

' Ought to be Tenerife. * i.e. Hi'-paniola. 

^ y havido ni aya havido noticia. 

* A few lines are a little defective, and portions of words lost. 
'■' pidiendogela, for pidiendosela. 

(See Page 25 for Explanation) 




28 LITERAL TRANSLATION OF COLUMBUS SPANISH LETTER 

should be given thein ; although when they were able to get. such things, they seemec 
to think thev had the best jewel in the world, for it was the hap of a sailor to get, in 
exchange for a strap, gold to the weight of two and a half castellanos, and others jnuch 
more for other things of far less value ; while for new blancas' they gave everything 
they had, even though it were [the worth of] two or three gold castellanos, or one 
or two arrobas'- of spun cotton. They took even pieces of broken barrel-hoops, and 
gave whatever they had, like senseless brutes ; insomuch that it seemed to me ill. I 
forbade it, and I gave gratuitouslv a thousand useful things that I carried, in order 
tlial they may conceive affection, and furthermore may be made^ Christians ; for they 
are inclined to the love and service of their Highnesses and of all the Castilian nation, 
and they strive to combine in giving us things which they have in abundance, and 
of which we are in need.^ And they knew no sect, nor idolatry ; save that they 
all believe that power and goodness are in the sky, and they believed very firmly 
that I, with these Ships and crew, came from the sky ; and in such opinion, they 
received me at every place where I landed, after they had lost their terror. And this 
comes not because they are ignorant : on the contrary, they are men of very subtle 
wit, who navigate all those seas, and who give a marvellously good account of 
everything — but because they never saw men wearing clothes nor the like oi our ships. 
And as soon as I arrived in the Indies, in the first island that I found, I took some of 
them bv force, to the intent that they should learn [our speech] and give me infoniiation 
of what there was in those parts. And so it was, that very soon they understood [us] 
and we them, what by speech or what by signs ; and those [Indians] have been ot much 
service. To this day I carry them [with me] who are still of the opinion that I come 
from heaven, |as appears] from much conversation which they have had with me. And 
thev were the first to proclaim it wherever I arrived ; and the others went running 
from house to house and to the neighbouring villages, with loud cries of " Come ! 
come to see the people from heaven !" Then, as soon as their minds were reassured 
about us, every one came, men as well as women, so that there remained none behind, 
big or little ; and they all brought something to eat and drink, which they gave with 
wondrous lovingness. Thev have in'; all the islands very many canoes, after the manner 
of rowing-gallevs, some larger, some smaller ; and a good many are larger than a 
galley of eighteen bencht-s. They are not so wide, because they are made of a 
smgle log of timber, but a galley could not keep up with them in rowing, for their 
motion is a thing beyond belief. And with these, they navigate through all those 
islands which are numberless, and ply their traffic. I have seen some of those 
canoes with seventy, and eightv, men in them, each one with his oar. In all those 
islands, I saw not much diversity in the looks of the people, nor in their manners 
and language ; but they all understand each other, which is a thing of singular 

' Copper-coins. - An arroba = 25 lbs. 

* be faran, tor se/aean, or se fagan. 

This sentence continues to be subjunctive after the word "Christians," in the Sanchcz-lctler ol Varnhagen, 
and the word aiuntr.r, here translated "combine " is there ayudar ^=to aid. 

* caddvan, for quedaban. • en omitted. 

(See Page 25 for Explanation) 



LITERAL TRANSLATION OF COLUMBUS SPANISH LETTER 29 

towardness for what I hope their Highnesses will determine, as to making thein 
conversant with our holy faith, unto which they are well disposed. I have already 
told how I had gone a hundred and seven leagues, in a straight line from West to -East, 
along the sea-coast of the Island of Juana ; according to which itinerary, I can declare 
that that island is larger than England and Scotland combined ; as, over and above 
those hundred and seven' leagues, there remains for me, on the western side, two 
provinces whereto I did not go — one of which they call Avan, where the people are 
born with tails — which provinces cannot be less in length than fifty or sixty leagues, 
according to what may be understood from the Indians with me, who know all the 
islands. This other, Espaflola, has a greater circumference than the whole of Spain 
from CoMbre in Gz/rt/unya,' by the sea-coast, as far as Fuente Ravia in Biscay ; since, 
along one of its four sides, I went for a hundred and eighty-eight great leagues in a 
.straight line from West to East. This is [a land] to be desired, — and once seen,' never 
to be relinquished — in which' ( — although, indeed, I have taken possession of them all* 
for their Highnesses, and all are more richly endowed than I have skill and power to 
say, and I hold them all in the name of their Highnesses who can dispose thereof as 
much and as completely as of the kingdoms of Castile — ) in this Espanola, in the place 
most suitable and best for its pro.ximity to the gold mines, and for traffic with the 
continent, as well on this side as on the further side of the Great Can, where there 
will be great commerce and profit, — I took possession of a large town which I named 
the city of Navidad.^ And I have made fortification there, and a fort (which by this 
time will have been completely finished) and I have left therein men enough for such 
m purpose, with arms and artillery, and provisions for more than a year, and a boat, 
and a [man who is] master of all sea-craft for making others ; and great friendship 
with the King of that land, to such a degree that he prided himself on calling and 
holding me as his brother. And even though his mind might change towards attacking 
those men, neither he nor his people know what arms are, and go naked. As I have 
already said, they are the most timorous creatures there are in the world, so that 
the men who remain there are alone sufficient to destroy all that land, and the island 
is without personal danger for them if they know how to behave themselves. It 
seems to me that in all those islands, the men are all content with a single wife ; 
and to their chief or king they give as many as twenty. The women, it appears to me, 
do more work than the men. Nor have I been able to learn whether they held personal 
property, for it seemed to me that whatever one had, they all took share of, especially 
of eatable things. Down to the present, I have not found in those islands any monstrous 
men, as manv expected, but on the contrary all the people are very comely ; nor are 

' The eleven letters in italics arc omitted from the text. 

' The word Tista deficient in consequence of a hole in the paper. 

^ A few letters deficient inconsequence of the .paper being torn. It is curious that the words from "have skill, 
down to " as com[pletely] " are printed twice. In the first instance, the line which comprises them is extra-regular 
at the bottom of page 2, and is so blurred and broken that its duplicate presentation (with a slight variant) at the top 
of page 3, seems to be a deliberate repetition. 

Navidad is the same as Natividad : he reached the spot on Chnsttnas-day, 1492 

(See Page 25 for Explanation) 



30 LITERAL TRANSLATION OF COLUMBUS SPANISH LETTER 

they black like those in Guinea, but have flowing hair ; and they are not begotten where 
there is an excessive violence of the rays of the sun. It is true that the sun is there 
very strong, notwithstanding that it is twenty-sLx degrees^ distant from the equinoctial 
line. In those islands, where there are lofty mountains, the cold was very keen there, 
thiK winter ; but they endure it by being accustomed thereto, and by the help of the 
meats which they eat with many and inordinately hot spices: Thus I have not found, 
nor had anv information of monsters, except of an island which is here" the second 
in the approach to the Indies, which is inhabited by a people whom, in all the islands, 
they regard as verv ferocious, who eat human flesh. These have many canoes with 
which they run through all the islands of India, and plunder and take as much as 
they can. They are no more ill-shapen than the others, but have the custom of wearing 
their hair long, like women ; and they use bows and arrows of the same reed-stems, with 
a point of wood at the top, for lack of iron which they have not. Amongst those 
other tribes who are excessively cowardly, these are ferocious ; but I hold them as 
nothing more than the others. These are they who have to do with the women of 
.^Iatremonio' — which is the first island that is encountered in the passage from Spain 
to the Indies — in which there are no men. Those women practise no female usages, 
but have bows and arrows of reed such as above mentioned ; and thev arm and cover 
themselves with plates of copper of which they have much. In another island, which 
they assure me is larger than Espafiola, the people have no hair. In this, there is 
incalculable gold; and concerning these and the rest I bring Indians with me as 
witnesses. And in conclusion, to speak only of what has been done in this voyage, 
which has been so hastily performed, their Highnesses may see that I shall give them 
as much gold as they may need, with very little aid which their Highnesses will give 
me ; spices and cotton at once, as much as their Highnesses will order to be shipped, 
and as much as they shall order to be shipped of mastic, — which till now has never 
been found except in Greece, in the island of Xio\ and the Seignory'^ sells it for what it 
likes ; and aloe-wood as much as they shall order to be shipped ; and slaves as many as 
they shall order to be shipped, — and these shall be from idolators. And I believe that 
I have discovered rhubarb and cinnamon, and I shall find that the men whom I am 
leaving there will have discovered a thousand other things of value ; as I made no deiav 
at any point, so long as the wind gave me an opportunity of sailing, except only in the 
town of Navidad till I had left things safely arranged and well established. And in 
truth I should have done much more if the ships had served me as well as might 
reasonably have been expected. This is enough ; and [thanks to] eternal God our 
Lord who gives to all those who walk His way, victory over things which seem 
impossible ; and this was signally one such, for although men have talked" or written 



' Instead of grades =: dejjrccs, the text has (by a typographical error) grades. 

■■^ The word en =^ in precedes " the second " in the text. 

' So in the text ; it should be .Matinino. 

■• Chios, or Scio. ' Of Genoa. 

"^ By a typographical blunder, /a//arfo is found in the text, instead oi /ublado. 

(See Page £5 for Explanation) 



LITERAL TRANSLATION OF COLUMBUS SPANISH LETTER 31 

of those lands, it was all by conjecture, without confirmation from eyesight, importing 
just so much that the hearers for the most part listened and judged that there was 
more fable in it than anything actual, however trifling. Since thus our Redeemer 
has given to our most illustrious King and Queen, and to their famous kingdoms, this 
victorv m so high a matter. Chrisiendom should take gladness therein and make greai 
festivals, and give solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity for the great exaltation they 
siiall have by the conversion of so many peoples to our holy faith; and next (or the 
temporal benefit which will bring hither refreshment and profit, not only to Spam, bui 
to all Christians. This bneflv, in accordance with the facts. Dated, on the caravel 
otl the Canary Islands, the 15 f-'ebruary of the year t4g3. 

At your command, 

The AuMiK.vL 



PosTscK'irr which caml wirniN rrn; LtriER 

.\tlei having written this [letter], and being in the sea of Castile, there rose 
•upon me so much wind, South and South-West, that it has caused me to lighten the 
vessels, however, I ran hither to-dav into this port of Lisbon, which was the greatest 
\\onder in the world , where I decided to write to their Highnesses. I have always 
luiind the seasons like Mav in all the Indies, whither I passed m thirty-three days, and 
returned in tweiitv-eight. but that these storms ha\e delaved me twenty-three da\s 
running ribout this sea All the seamen sav here that there never has been so bad ,1 
vx inter, nor so manv shipwrecks 

Dated the . 4th of March 



Columbus sent this letter to the Escnvano de Racioii 0( the islands found 
in the Indies. Received with another lor their Highnesses. 

(See Page 25 for Explanation) 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS an( 
HIS ENTERPRISE 



Edward liuther Stevenson, Ph. D, 

In the early morning of August 3d, 1492, three small vessels weighed 
anchor and spread sail in the port of Palos for a voyage across uncharted 
waters. In the morning of October 12th, sail was furled and anchor cast in 
the harbor of a New World. No discovery, in the history of geographical 
exploration, is comparable in its importance to this which the genius of 
Christopher Columbus inspired. 

Whatever the truth respecting the real life and character of this great 
Genoese navigator, which his numerous biographers, with conflicting opin- 
ions, have attempted to relate: whatever the truth respecting the plans and 
purposes which we may call his "grand enterprise," there is to be found in 
his life story that which can never fail to interest. 

Of the early life of Columbus we have but little information that is 
reliable. That he was born in the year 1451 in a quarter of the city of 
Genoa outside the city wall is measurably certain, but the old home long 
since gave place for improvement, and its exact location is forgotten. The 
house in which he passed his childhood days is now pointed out to the visi- 
tor in the Vico Dritto di Ponticello. Despite the allusions of his early 
biographers to distinguished family connections, a lowly origin was his, for 
his father was a wool -weaver to whom riches and worldly honors were \in- 
known. 

His education to his fourteenth year must have been such as was fur- 
nished by the schools which the weavers had established, supplemented by 
the lessons learned in his daily touch with life in a busy city. We can not 
be far wrong in finding that a love for life at sea was quickened in him by 
frequent visits to the wharfs where vessels came from distant shores laden 
with the wares in which Genoa trafficked to her great material profit. 

The story of his student days at the university of Pavia may now be 
dismissed as untrustworthy, for it is scarcely to be credited that at the age 
of ten or twelve he would find profit in listening to lectures dealing with the 
problems of philosophy, theology, or cosmography. He tells us in a letter 
written late in life that he went to sea when but fourteen years of age, a 
statement which may be accepted as a reference to a coasting trip. Though 
he eludes us in our attempt to trace his career to the age of twenty-five, 
there is little doubt that he passed the time on land and sea much as oppor- 
tunity and inclination directed. 

Maritime cities of Italy, such as Genoa and Venice, had long been the 
centers of European traffic with the Orient, and were In sympathy with 
every enterprise which looked toward the expansion of trade interests. 
Wares that entered their ports were carried in their own vessels to be dis- 
tributed in the ports of Spain, of Portugal, of France, of England. Italian 
seamen of this day, and there were none more expert and more daring, 
found ready employment in the service of the western European states, par- 
ticularly in Portugal and in Spain, where an interest in maritime enterprise 
bid fair to rival that of the Italian cities in their most prosperous days. We 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 33 

may conjecture that it was the lure of Portugal or of Spain that induced 
young Christopher Columbus to try his fortune in one or the other of these 
countries; at any rate, in 1476 he is on board a Genoese vessel which formed 
one of a convoy sailing for Lisbon. Off Cape St. Vincent, it is related, this 
convoy was attacked by the French corsair Colombo, not a distinguished 
French admiral nor a relative of our Christopher, and that but two of the 
Genoese vessels reached Lisbon, one of which carried Columbus. 

An early biographer informs us that his brother Bartholoinew had 
already established himself in Lisbon, earning his living by making charts 
and selling books, and the inference is that Christopher gave what aid he 
could to the business. No record of that day, however, tells us of his life in 
this new environment. It assuredly was not that of the old home in Genoa. 
Seafaring men may well have been his companions, but his outlook was 
changed. Hitherto his vision had been bounded by the horizon of the 
sea,; there was no known limit to the expanse of ocean which now stretched 
before him. How much of added interest would there be in his plans and 
activities did we have reliable data concerning them! Let us not forget as 
we proceed with the story of his life that with but few exceptions this is 
based upon records made subsequent to his great discovery of 1492, and 
there is much in these early records which suggests their authors were too 
ready to interpret his past in the light of the distinction which had come to 
him, and that they made great effort to have that past fall in with a present 
so wonderful because of what had been achieved. 

In his wanderings at sea while yet considering Portugal his new home, 
it is hardly probable that he sailed as far north as Iceland, which some of 
his biographers assert. To such an event no reference is made by himself 
in his journal, or in his frank statement to his sovereigns that he was fully 
<;ompetent to pass upon the unusual excellence of the harbors in the new 
islands for he had explored "the coasts from Guinea on the south to England 
on the north." It would have been in keeping with his disposition then to 
have referred to such an expedition to the farther North, for he was ever 
ready to talk of his adventures. 

The story of his courtship and of his marriage to Philippa Muniz 
Perestrello, which took place shortly after his arrival in Portugal, has in it 
something of an Iberian romance. Let us, however, not suppose it was 
through any want of love that Columbus nowhere refers to her in his letters, 
and only in his will, in which he expressed a desire that masses should be 
said for the repose of her soul. This marriage brought Columbus into a 
family of some distinction, for the father of Philippa had been governor 
of the Island of Porto Santo, which island Prince Henry the Navigator un- 
dertook to colonize in 1425, and furthermore her cousin was then Lisbon's 
archbishop. He went to live in Porto Santo, perhaps in the year 1479, an 
island to which no great importance attached save that it was a western 
outpost in the Atlantic, and ships bound for the Madeiras and the coast of 
Africa made it a place of call. Whether we accept or reject the account of 
his expedition to the Guinea coast, while Porto Santo was his home, his 
three or four years passed in the Madeiras must have given opportunity to 
add to his experiences as a seaman, and to his skill as a navigator. He must 
have listened in those days to many a marvelous story of adventure at sea; 
must have heard of the successful commercial enterprises of the Portugese 
as they went feeling their way down the coast of Africa, and the tales of 
islands said to have been visited, or seen, yet farther to the west than were 
those of the Madeira or the Azore group. The stories of Antilia, of the 
Islands of the Seven Cities, of St. Brandan's i.sland, of Brazil, could not have 



34 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 

failed to claim his interest, for here were lively tales of western lands, most 
of which stories, let it be noted, came floating out of the middle ages or of 
an earlier day. Whether true or false, they could not have failed to quicken 
the enthusiasm of every sailor eager for maritime adventure, building in 
him the hope that success might crown an effort to find again those islands 
which seemed to move about over sailors' charts of the day like phantoms 
of the sea. It is very certain that a belief in the truth of the existence of 
far western islands increased with the telling of the tales concerning them. 

He who reads himself into the life and spirit of Columbus' day can not 
fail of the conviction that no one incident set him to the laying of his plans 
which were to develop into so successful an issue. But of the many accounts 
of adventurous voyage southward and westward which must have influenced 
him, none, in the opinion of those who have searched the records most 
critically, holds a place of greater interest than the story of the shipwrecked 
sailor who found hospitable shelter in his home while he was yet in the 
Madeiras. There is nothing in the story which can be called improbable, 
and quite the contrary, there is much that entitles it to full credence in its 
essential features. This sailor, a pilot of Huelva, so runs the record, making 
from a Spanish port to England or to Flanders, was driven westward by a 
steady gale from the east, until at length he came to islands lying beyond 
those which had been charted. After hasty observation, in which he took 
his bearings, he set out on his homeward voyage, under favorable wind, 
which had now changed to the west. At length the pilot and a few remain- 
ing members of his crew, exhausted by wind and wave, anchored in a 
Madeira harbor, and soon fell in with Columbus. These storm tossed sailors 
did not long survive their experience at sea, and last of all the pilot died 
at Columbus' home, not, however, until he had revealed to his benefactor 
the story of his voyage and discovery, and had placed in his hands a chart 
on which had been laid down the islands he had visited. 

Shortly after Columbus reached Portugal again, perhaps in 1483, we 
find evidence that his "grand enterprise" was taking shape in his mind. He 
had returned, we are safe in asserting, with the conviction that beyond the 
Azores, then marking the limit of the habitable world as generally believed, 
were islands or mainlands, and that great honor would be his who could 
show the way thither. No scientific theory lay at the bottom of his enter- 
prise, no long years of study- — of this, most searching modern criticism 
makes us certain. It is doubtful that Columbus before his eventful voyage, 
had other than a superficial knowledge of writers ancient or medieval who 
treated of the problems of cosmography, by which name geography was 
then generally known. It is doubtful that the great Italian Toscanelli ever 
gave suggestion to the King of Portugal that there was a shorter and a 
better way to the Indies than the one by the south. It is doubtful that this 
same Italian savant ever entered into correspondence with Columbus or 
sent to him a chart to demonstrate how easy it would be to find the way 
to India by the west. It is doubtful that in 1474, when Toscanelli is reported 
to have made his first suggestion to King John's friend Canon Martin, the 
Portugese had any other India in mind as a goal of their endeavors than the 
India of Africa or Abyssinia, the land of Prester John. Of this corre- 
spondence nothing appears to have been known until after the new world 
had been found. 

Columbus may have had inspired in him new confidence that long voy- 
ages at sea were possible through Martin Behaim's improved astrolabe 
which this distinguished Nurnberger brought from Germany to Portugal. 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 35 

By means of this a navigator, better than before, could ascertain his latitude 
at sea while longitude had yet to be determined largely by dead reckoning. 
It was this same Martin Behaim who, in Nurnberg, in the very year in which 
Columbus sailed, made his remarkable terrestrial globe, the oldest one ex- 
tant, which, in exact copy, may here be seen in the cabin of the Santa 
Maria. It does not seem improbable that these two distinguished men 
talked over, while in Lisbon, the problems of Atlantic exploration. 

The question of equipment for a voyage of discovery, such voyage as 
Columbus had in mind to make, called for larger outlay than was at his 
command. We may believe that it was through his indomitable courage, 
his enthusiasm, and the constancy of his convictions, through the attractive 
boldness of his plans, and the determination to make them ultimately carry, 
that he at length found it possible to lay these plans before King John and 
his commisison of three wise and learned men of Portugal. There is one 
account of this royal interview which tells us that His Majesty King John 
listened with much interest to the proposals of Columbus, and was inclined 
to look with favor on his request for ships to undertake the voyage of dis- 
covery, but he did not think it fitting that such honors and rewards should 
be granted as were set down in the demands. Another story of this inter- 
view relates that it was there decided to present the plans to a commission 
specially selected, and that this commission held the scheme to be but idle 
talk, and too fantastic for serious consideration. Discouraged by his failure 
to find in Portugal a patron, and perhaps by reason of the death of his wife 
Philippa, he left for Spain in 148.5: secretly say some of his biographers who 
think it was because of a political intrigue with the Breganza party that he 
found this step necessary in order to escape the vigilance of government 
officials. 

Those who have been most eager to believe Columbus had a well laid 
plan, have traced him at this time to Genoa with his propositions for finan- 
cial aid, and have traced him thence to Venice. These theories now may be 
dismissed as unsupported. From Lisbon we can trace him to the Spanish 
port of Palos, thence, with some degree of certainty, toward Huelva where 
there lived a sister of his wife Philippa, but we find him, with his young son 
Diego, halting on the way at the Convent of Santa Maria de la Rabida. In 
the somewhat picturesque and pathetic story of a worn and weary traveler 
^iven shelter by Franciscan friars, there are those who find the opening 
scene of his career in Spain. The Prior of his Convent, Juan Perez de 
Marchena, gave him welcome, for he seems to have been attracted by what 
Columbus had to tell of maritime adventure and by his plan to make a 
voyage of discovery to the west, and this Prior must have had some knowl- 
edge of geography, from his vicinity to Palos, and may have known the 
story of the Huelva pilot, and of other explorations to the south and west. 

We may fancy Columbus at the Convent talking of his enterprise to 
interested and sympathetic listeners, talking over plans with them for an 
audience with the King and Queen of Spain. One of the first of Spanish 
noblemen to be attracted to this persistent Genoese was the duke of Medina- 
Coli, who, at intervals, for a period of two years, entertained Columbus at 
his castle near Cadiz. It was this nobleman who commends him to the 
Queen. After a long season of suspense, he was commanded to present him- 
self at Court that he might explain his novel proposition. With this much 
encouragement he set out for Cordova, bearing his letter from the Duke, 
which contained in addition to its word of commendation, the request that 
should the proposal for an expedition meet with favor, he himself might 
have a share in it. But a critical moment had now come in the wars against 



36 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 

the Moors. The city of Cordova was astir, on his arrival, virith military 
preparations, and months must intervene before the King or Queen could 
grant him audience. He, however, was now favored by good fortune, for he 
found in Alonzo de Quintanilla, treasurer of Castile, a host who entertained 
him for some weeks, and became much interested in the plan of making to 
the west a voyage of discovery, and it was this same Quintanilla who brought 
Columbus into touch with other men of influence at the Spanish Court-Gon- 
zales de Mendoza, Archbishop of Toledo and Grand Cardinal of Spain, An- 
tonio Geraldini, the Papal Nuncio, and his brother Alexander, tutor of the 
Royal children. Surely there was reasonable hope that he would have a 
favorable hearing when royal audience was granted him. 

Sometime within the following months Columbus' new and influential 
friends perfected arrangements for him to lay his plans in person before the 
King and Queen. No detailed record of the audience now is known, but it 
appears that what he had to say awakened in the King no little interest, and 
he asked for its consideration by a commission. At Salamanca, in the winter 
of 1486, this commission met for conference. Much that has been said of 
the "Salamanca Junta" may be dismissed as fiction. There is no substantial 
ground on which to base a charge that learned university professors and 
teachers of theology were present to dispute Columbus' propositions, bolster- 
ing their arguments with reference to theories long since outworn. At best 
this could not have been more than an informal conference, and in no wise 
did it involve the dignity and prestige of Salamanca's ancient university. If 
opinions adverse to Columbus' plans were here expressed, so were there 
opinions that were favorable, and it is' doubtless true that at the end his 
friends as well as his opponents were wiser than they were before the con- 
ference, while no conclusions that were definite were reached. 

In the early spring of 1487 the Court was again at Cordova, and Colum- 
bus followed, once more hopeful that he might have a favorable hearing. 
We are told the Queen now gave to him assurance that he had not been 
forgotten, and in support of this, attached him to her Court, which act en- 
titled him to an occasional though small remuneration. 

How, in the months which followed, he persists in search of royal aid, 
of aid from almost any source, how he then made it known, if this may be 
believed, he would return to Portugal and lay his plans again before its 
King if Spain did not accept them, how he proposed to go to France, to 
England, how he returned to Huelva and the Convent of La Rabida, can not 
here be given in detail. Persistence and the favor of events secured to him 
again an audience with the King and Queen, and the success of Christian 
arms against the Moors in the early months of 1492 gave just that turn 
which brought to him a final triumph for his enterprise. Whatever the de- 
mands he made, when first he told his plans to Portugal's King John, there 
is no ground for a belief that he at any time gave his consent to make these 
less. With a conviction strengthened as the months and years went by, 
with a conviction which appeared to rest upon a knowledge that was certain, 
such as had been confided to him by the pilot, he stands out to the end for 
his rewards in case of his success. The victory at Granada brought in its 
turn a change in attitude toward his propositions'. At last the Queen gave 
her consent, and such support as then seemed needful for equipment. 

In April 1492, a formal document was drawn and signed at Santa Fe 
by both the King and Queen, in which the object of his voyage is set down 
with careful mention of rewards and honors, in event his plans should prove 
to be successful. Nowhere in this capitulation is there reference to the 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 37 

finding of a water route to India. Nowhere is India mentioned. It may be 
said no record antedating 149 2 is linown which tells us that the goal of his 
endeavor was to reach the Indies of the East. We may rest assured that he 
set out to do what many another sailor thought to do, to make discovery of 
lands beyond the western boundary of the then known world. It was a day 
of many just such undertakings. The times encouraged them. In ships 
construction, in the character of charts, of compasses and astrolabes which 
seamen used there was in the years which closed the fifteenth century most 
wonderful advance. It was pre-eminently the want of adequate equipment 
for great sea voyages rather than the so-called terrors of the deep which long 
stood as a hindrance to successful expeditions such as the bold and hardy 
seamen of that day may well have planned or may have had desire to make. 
The knowledge of good seamanship was then rapidly expanding. But we 
may add that there were among these sailors none who seemed to be so 
daring, none so certain of success, none seemed to have a goal so definite, 
nor thought so much of wealth and honors which might be acquired, as 
did Columbus. 

The agreement entered into with the King and Queen relates in brief 
that Christopher Columbus should be Admiral in all such islands and such 
mainlands as he should discover in the ocean sea, that he should be the 
Viceroy and the Governor in all these islands and these mainlands, that one- 
tenth of all the profit should be his, arising from the sale of merchandise 
obtained within the jurisdiction of his admiralty, that he or his lieutenant 
should judge all cases of dispute which might arise through trade or traffic 
in the islands and the mainlands, and that in future he should have one- 
eighth of all trade profit should he bear a like proportion of expense in 
fitting vessels to engage in this new enterprise. Thus strengthened in his 
purpose, since his project had the royal sanction and support, he proceeded 
with his preparation for departure. As has been noted, he was now a noble 
and a high official in an ancient monarchy, entrusted with a unique mission, 
yet all depended on his chances of success whether these honors should fade 
away in the mist of the Sea of Darkness, leaving a mere shadow of a name 
such as had been left to others who before had ventured south and west in 
search of unknown lands. The 12th day of May he went direct to Palos, 
and began the fitting of his fleet. If obstacles beset him in this task, and 
we are told that they were many, they could be called but sligh,t compared 
with those which he had overcome. In any story of the final preparations, 
men such as Luis Santangel and Gabriel Sanches, men such as were the 
Pinzon brothers, should never be forgotten for th6 aid they gave. 

Three ships at last were ready for the voyage. The one with large and 
covered deck, which we may call a carack, and which bore a name in honor 
of the convent of La Ilabida, was selected as the flagship. The other two, 
then known as caravels, were of smaller size, and decked at their extremi- 
ties. Juan de la Cosa served as; commander of the first, whose chart of 1500, 
now the oldest known on which the New World is laid down, is here dis- 
played in good facsimile, though much reduced, among the objects in the 
cabin. Vincente and Alonso Pinzon had been chosen to command the 
caravels, the Pinta and the Nina. "With strong sea breeze, at eight o'clock 
on Friday morning, August 3rd," Columbus tells us in his journal, "they 
started towards the south, which was the way to the Canaries." That far 
the course had been well marked on portolan or sailors' charts. Beyond 
stretched the uncharted ocean, unless we accept as more or less authentic 
record such as may be found on charts of Benincasas or Bianco or Roselli. 



38 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 

We may at least be well assured that it was by charts such as were these 
Columbus sailed. Just how the entire world appeared, when drawn accord- 
ing to the notions of the day, is set down in that fine world map the work of 
an unknown Genoese, and in facsimile is placed in the exhibit next that of 
the Commander and companion of Columbus — the one, a world map, drawn 
on the eve of the departure of Columbus to find the islands and the main- 
lands' mentioned in his contract with the Sovereigns of Spain, the other 
showing for the first the New World which he found. 

Although we do not have the journal of this momentous voyage as it 
was kept by its Commander, in somewhat altered form it has come down 
to us in records left by Las Casas', a distinguished, if not always truthful, 
Spanish writer. This journal gives most interesting details from day to day, 
of thoughts, impressions: and experiences. His crew, as we are told, exhibited 
at times some fear lest they should go so far as not to find it possible to 
return, fears, which, however, the commander as appears successfully dis- 
pelled. 

Columbus makes at least one entry of great scientific interest, finding 
on September 13, his compass needle turning to the west of north. The 
needle's declination had been noted long before his day, that is' that it does 
not at all times and in all places turn towards the polar star, but previous 
observation told only of its declination to the east. Columbus found it turn- 
ing to the west, and was the first to note this fact. One should here read 
the records in his journal. He mentions that he had with him a chart on 
which were laid down islands to the west, perhaps a chart drawn from 
information given by the Huelva pilot, perhaps a chart such as that drawn 
by Roselli, on which are laid down islands such as Antilia far to the west 
of Spain. This chart like those to which a reference has been previously 
made is shown in good facsimile. The journal entry of September 25th 
makes reference to these islands and the search for them, and notes the 
failure to discover them. "He then sailed on," as he relates, continuing his 
search for land still farther west, nowhere again does' he make reference to 
the chart by which he sailed. From this time on they encountered almost 
daily evidence that land was near. "At two hours after midnight" so says 
the journal entry which concludes the record of October 11th, "land ap- 
peared." They lowered sail, and "standing off and on until the day," they 
landed on an island which the natives called Guanahani, now known as Wat- 
ling's Island. The admiral carried, as they came ashore, the royal standard. 
Alonzo and Vincente Pinzon carried each a banner marked with the sov- 
ereigns' initials and with a crown surmounting every letter. With these 
emblems of their powers they took possession of the land. 

Columbus had now attained the object of his enterprise, in so far at 
least as to discover islands, and, as he thought, it might be mainlands, not 
in the ocean sea where h( had searched for them as laid down on his chart, 
but further to the west, so far indeed that there could well arise the ques- 
tion in his mind — Is this not India? We may well hold with Vignaud that it 
was a thing more glorious for Columbus to have found America because he 
looked for It than to have found it by mere chance while seeking, as is often 
said, to find a seaway to the Indies of the east. He thought of India as he 
sailed among the islands he had found, reached only after weeks of sailing, 
but he nowhere mentioned India when seeking aid to undertake his enter- 
prise. 

For several weeks he explored the region, sailed along the coast of 
Cuba, discovered Hayti, on the northern coast of which the admiral's ship 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS ENTERPRISE 39 

was lost. On January 16th the two remaining vessels, the Pinta and the 
Nina "trimmed sail to go to Spain," having on that date the last look at a 
distant cape of Espanola. The homeward journey was no les's eventful than 
was the outward cruise, as one learns from the Journal. "At midday March 
15th they entered by the bar of Saltes, inside the harbor whence they had 
departed August 3d the previous year." The word of their return soon 
spread and was received by some as but another tale of maritime adventure, 
by others as a triumph, a successful venture which brought with it added 
glory to the sovereigns of Spain. 

How the King and Queen gave audience to the admiral, how Europe 
learned that new lands had been found, how Pope Alexander VI confirmed 
the claims of Spain and Portugal to all discoveries made or to be made of 
lands which lay to west or east of that meridian henceforth to be known as 
the Line of Demarcation, and how but slowly there was realized the g-reat 
importance of the new discoveries, can not here be related. 

September 25th, 1493, the admiral embarked again to extend his ex- 
plorations of the new lands he had found, again in 1498, and yet again in 
1502. The story of these years in his career make plain this fact — the great- 
ness of events which flowed so rapidly and strong from his discovery of 1492 
outran the purposes and plans which were of his own shaping. It was by 
his own success that he at leng-th was overwhelmed. That he should not 
have grasped the full and true significance attaching to the New World he 
had found is not a fact at which to marvel. None in his day could compre- 
hend the scope of his discovery. At times, in his last years, he thought that 
he had shown the way to India, at other times he expressed the conviction 
that he had been the means of pointing Europe to a region which had hith- 
erto been entirely unknown. 

It was almost in complete forgetfulness he died in Valladolid the 20th of 
May in 1506, lamenting in his last days' that there had been taken from him 
most of the riches and the honors which should have been his due. If in 
his day he did but little to uplift and to improve his contemporaries, it would 
be difficult to find a child of any age who did more to prepare a way for 
such improvement. Columbus holds his' place in history not by the great- 
ness of his character, but by the greatness of the idea with which he was 
possessed, and the persistence with which he followed that idea to a suc- 
cessful issue. Islands and mainlands he set out to find he found, and it de- 
tracts no whit from the greatness of the fact that he had but faint concep- 
tion of what he had achieved. He did more than "add a New World to Cas- 
tile and Leon," he added, as it were, to all mankind, a New World, an en- 
dowment rich beyond all compare. 



"Behind him lay the gray Azores, 
Behind the Gates of Hercules; 
Before him not the ghost of shores, 
Before him only shoreless seas. 
The good mate said: 'Now must we pray. 
For, lo, the very stars are gone. 
Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?' 
'Why say. Sail on, sail on, sail on!' " 

• ••••••• 

"Then pale and worn, he kept his deck 
And peered through darkness Ah, that night 
Of all black nights! And then — a speck — 
A light! A light! A light! A light! 
It grew — a starlit flag unfurled. 
It grew to be time's burst of dawn. 
He gained a world; he gave that world 
Its grandest lesson: 'On, sail on!' " 

—Joaquin Miller. 



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